Taiwan introduces new law for handling labor disputes

Taipei, The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed a new law aimed at resolving disputes between employees and employers, and which the government hopes will better protect workers' rights in Taiwan's judicial system.

The Labor Dispute Act stipulates that all levels of courts must set up "labor courts" presided over by judges specializing in labor laws to address lawsuits related to employer-workers' disputes, said Judicial Yuan officials at a press conference after the act cleared the legislative floor.

The new law, made of 53 articles in five chapters, emphasizes professional judicial proceedings, the expansion of the definition of labor dispute, the formation of a labor arbitration committee for civil appeals, and the removal of obstructions facing workers as they take legal action against the management.

Other aspects of the law include accelerating judicial procedures, reinforcing arbitration procedures, and protecting the rights of those concerned efficiently, according to the Judicial Yuan, the highest judicial organ in Taiwan.

Taiwan Labor Front Secretary-General Sun Yu-lien (???) praised the passage of the new act as a "landmark breakthrough" in the history of Taiwan's labor human rights.

The Labor Dispute Act will enable swift settlement of labor disputes, Sun said, noting that currently when disadvantaged workers are caught in a labor-management dispute, the only resort they can take is filing an arbitration appeal to the relevant local government based on the Act for Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes.

In fighting for their rights, such workers are always confronted with hurdles during judicial proceedings that cost them a great deal of time and energy to overcome, Sun said.

The new act is scheduled to become effective one year after its passage.

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